Hammer toe correction device



Oct. 12, 1965 J. NEU 3,211,142

HAMMER TOE CORRECTION DEVICE Filed June 6, 1963 INVENTOR. Johan/Yes United States Patent 3,211,142 HAMMER TOE CORRECTION DEVICE Johannes Neu, Frankfurt am Main-Sossenheim, Germany, assignor to The Scholl Mfg. Co., Inc., Chicago, Ill.,a corporation of New York Filed June 6, 1963, Ser. No. 285,989 Claims priority, application Germany, Aug. 29, 1962, Sch 32,141 Claims. (Cl. 128-81) This invention relates to improvements in a hammer toe correction device, and more particularly to a device generally in the form of a surgical pad highly suitable and desirable for the relief of pain caused by hallux flexus or hammer toe, and the correction of such afflictions, although the device mayhave other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

The discomfort from hammer toe is caused by shoe pressure upon the sensitive corn, callus or adventitious brusa which usually forms on the dorsal surface of the flexed joint, and upon the enlarged extremity of the toe underneath, the nail of which may become ingrown. It is desirable not only to eliminate pressure on the affliction on top of the flexed toe joint, but also to encourage the toe to assume a straight position in keeping with the other toes.

Heretofore, various devices have been developed for correcting hammer toe or a similar condition, and in many instances hammer toe springs and the like were utilized for such purpose. Such instrumentalities embodying the use of metal and an attaching harness are not only costly, but frequently resulted in considerable discomfort by virtue of the attachment of the device. Of course, corn and callus pads and the like were utilized to relieve pressure from the afliiction on the top of the toe. Some attempts have been made in the past to develop non-rigid surgical pads for the purpose of not only relieving pressure but also to straighten the afflicted toe. These formerly known devices, however, were not efficacious in performing the desired result, and did not result in the relief of pain as rapid as is desired. In many cases, also, such devices as developed heretofore had abrupt edges in contact with the toe and consequently frequently provided a new discomfort or aggravation.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a simple form of nonrigid device capable, when worn Within an article of footwear, of maintaining a hammer toe in a substantially straight position while effecting pain relief.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a hammer toe correction device which may be easily slipped over the afflicted toe, and which is so construoted as to provide upward resilient pressure against the bottom of the toe and downward resilient pressure at the top of the toe in such a manner as to gently but firmly force the toe into substantially straight position.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a device for alleviating hammer toes so constructed that pain is materially relieved almost immediately when the device is worn.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a device for alleviating an affliction such as a hammer toe, which device is of non-rigid construction and which embodies no abrupt edges that might contact the toe in an irritating manner.

Still a further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a simple and inexpensive form of hammer toe corrector which is adjustable to properly fit the aifiicted toe in keeping with the development of the particular afliiction, and which may be utilized without the need of expert instruction or manipulation.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

On the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view illustrating a device embodying principles of the instant invention in operative position on a toe;

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged front view of the device itself;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line III-III of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the device.

As shown on the drawings:

The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention includes a lower pad body 1 which is longitudinally wedgeshaped having a relatively high forward end 2 and a relatively thin rearward edge 3. This pad body may be made of any suitable resilient material such as sponge rubber, felt, or an organic synthetic resin foam such as vinyl foam or urethane foam, both such foams having intercommunicating cells and being porous. The foam material has a highly comfortable feeling against the skin of the user and frictionally engages the skin with a soft clinging action. This material is also possessed with excellent resiliency with a not too high recovery factor.

On the underside of the pad body 1 a cover 4 is preferably secured, and this cover may be a thin piece of leather or a plastic film or sheet such as a vinyl or acetate sheet, such having excellent wearing qualities and also affording a smooth surface for the drawing on of hosiery thereover.

Cooperating with the pad body 1 which underlies the afliicted toe, is an upper pad body 5, considerably smaller than the pad body 1 and which rests on top of the afflicted toe behind the flexed joint and the corn or callus thereon. This upper pad 5 may, if so desired, be encased in a soft leather sheath 6. It will be noted that the upper pad is also longitudinally wedge-shaped, having a blunt and relatively thick forward end 7 and a very thin rear edge 8.

For connecting the upper and lower pads, the upper pad is provided with a digit loop 9 which may be integral with the sheath 6, or which, if desired may be of elastic material and secured to the sheath 6 or upper pad 5, as the case may be, in any suitable manner. The digit loop 9 is not secured to the lower pad body 1, so that the upper pad 5 along with the digit loop may be moved relatively to the lower pad until the proper relative position for the particular size and nature of the affliction is determined.

When the proper adjustment of the part has been found, it is a simple expedient to slip the entire device over the toe, that is with the toe extending between the upper pad 5 and the lower pad 1, with the upper pad resting just to the rear of the afilicted joint, and the lower pad extending beneath the toe, indicated at 10 in FIGURE 1, so as to underlie the toe almost to the tip thereof. If desired, and in many cases it may be preferable, the inside of the digit loop 9, in the lower portion thereof, may be provided with a spread of pressure sensitive adhesive 11, FIGURE 3, which, until put to use may be covered with the usual temporary protective facing material, not shown. After the correct adjustment between the upper and lower pads has been determined, it is a simple expedient to remove the protective facing, and utilize the adhesive to connect the digit loop and the lower pad and thus maintain the adjustment.

When in use the device is extremely simple and effective.

As stated above, it can be properly applied by the ultimate user without the need of expert attention or advice. Once properly adjusted with respect to the particular size and nature of the affliction, and placed upon the toe as seen in FIGURE 1, it Will be noted that the upper pad elfectively relieves pressure gradually forwardly from the flexed jointand also exerts pressure downwardly on the phalanx to the rear of the joint, while at the same time the lower pad exerts pressure upwardly beneath the toe with more of the pressure adjacent the end of the toe thereby tending to raise, the distal end of the phalanx ahead of the joint, and thus the entire toe is brought into a straight or more straightened position, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. As the device is worn, the toe will gradually assume a straighter position in keeping with the other toes, lessening the possibility of the nail becoming ingrown, materially reducing any pain on the enlarged distal tip of the toe by holding it upwardly from contact with the insole of the shoe, and relieving any corn, callosity, or other affliction on top of the flexed joint from pressure by the shoe and the pain resulting therefrom. The soft yielding pressure of the device on the toe in the two directions which gradually increases to the points of most leverage and effectiveness by virtue of the wedge-shaped pads produces highly efiective results and yet the entire device is of non-rigid construction. It will also be noted that the device is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and use, and long lived.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a surgical device for straightening a digit and relieving irritating pressure thereon,

a pair of spaced differently sized pads of cushioning material for disposition on opposite sides of a digit,

each of said pads being wedge-shaped in vertical crosssection, both tapering in the same direction with the smaller pad overlying the larger pad substantially near the tapered end thereof, and

means to hold said pads in position on a digit.

2 In a surgical device for straightening a digit and relieving the. source of irritating pressure,

a pair of spaced pads of cushioning material for disposition on opposite sides of a digit,

one of said pads being longer than the other,

each of said pads being wedge-shaped in vertical crosssection, both tapering in the same direction with the smaller pad overlying the larger pad substantially near the tapered end thereof, and

flexible non-rigid means to attach said pads to a digit.

3. In a surgical device for holding a digit in a straightened position,

a lower pad of cushioning material to underlie a digit,

an upper and smaller pad of cushioning material to overlie the digit,

said pads being wedge-shaped in vertical cross-section, both tapering in the same direction with the smaller pad overlying the larger pad substantially near the tapered end thereof,

a digit loop attached to the upper pad and extending underneath the lower pad to permit reception of the digit between said pads, and

means to connect said digit loop to the underside of said lower pad at a desired location therealong, whereby said device may be adjusted to fit a particular digit.

4. In a hammer toe correcting device,

differently sized upper and lower cushioning pads spaced apart,

said pads being wedge-shaped in vertical cross-section, both tapering in the same direction with the smaller pad overlying the larger pad substantially near the tapered end thereof, 8

the anterior ends of said pads being the thicker, and

means connecting said pads to hold said pads .on a hammer toe with the lower pad underlying the toe and the upper pad overlying the phalanx to the rear of the flexed joint of the toe.

5. In a hammer toe connecting device,

ditferently sized upper and lower cushioning pads spaced apart,

both said pads being wedge-shaped in vertical crosssection, both tapering in the same direction with the smaller pad overlying the larger pad substantially near the tapered end thereof,

a toe loop connecting said pads to hold the same on a hammer toe with the larger pad underlying the toe and the smaller pad overlying the phalanx to the rear of the flexed joint of the toe, and

said loop being connectable to said larger pad at a desired location on the loop, whereby said device may be adjusted to fit a particular afilicted toe.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,198,947 9/16 Murphy 128-81 1,787,398 12/30 Sidegreaves 12881 2,332,472 10/43 Salander 128-81 2,589,791 3/52 Fine 128-153 3,086,520 4/63 Scholl 128-153 X FOREIGN PATENTS 935,109 6/48 France. 970,188 1/51 France.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. ROBERT E. MORGAN, Examiner. 

1. IN A SURGICAL DEVICE FOR STRAIGHTENING A DIGIT AND RELIEVING IRRITATING PRESSURE THEREON, A PAIR OF SPACED DIFFERENTLY SIZED PADS OF CUSHIONING MATERIAL FOR DISPOSITION ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF A DIGIT, EACH OF SAID PADS BEING WEDGE-SHAPED IN VERTICAL CROSSSECTION, BOTH TAPERING IN THE SAME DIRECTION WITH THE SMALLER PAD OVERLYING THE LARGE PAD SUBSTANTIALLY NEAR THE TAPERED END THEREOF, AND MEANS TO HOLD SAID PADS IN POSITION ON A DIGIT. 